One of the horror genre's "most widely read critics" (Rue Morgue # 68), "an accomplished film journalist" (Comic Buyer's Guide #1535), and the award-winning author of Horror Films of the 1980s (2007), The Rock and Roll Film Encyclopedia (2007) and Horror Films of the 1970s (2002), John Kenneth Muir, presents his blog on film, television and nostalgia, named one of the Top 100 Film Studies Blog on the Net.

Sunday, March 05, 2017

King Kong Week Begins!

On Friday, March 10, the great beast, King Kong makes a triumphant, big-budget return to movie screens across America in Kong: Skull Island (2017), and a cinematic story that began in 1933 continues with a new chapter.

I'll be devoting space on the blog this week to the King Kong phenomenon, which consists of films, TV appearances and even vintage merchandise.

It's strange to think about, but the world has seen King Kong films, cartoons, spin-offs, parodies, and, of course, remakes for nearly eighty-five years now.

Intriguingly, King Kong has been a part of movie history through every type of special effects presentation one can imagine. The giant ape has been presented through stop-motion animation, man-in-suit effects, and CGI. In short, he has endured major changes in the film industry, and blockbuster movie making.

What hasn't changed -- at least much -- is the key idea or theme underlying the King Kong Cinematic Myth: a noble, wild creature brought back from his kingdom in the wild -- where he is dominant -- only to be exploited by avaricious man.

The other conceit of the King Kong myth is the beast's devotion or love for a human woman (Ann Darrow, Dwan, or even, in Japanese film, Lt. Susan Watson), and the way that this devotion leads often him to tragedy.

Some other themes surrounding Kong's story include the journey to find something new and amazing -- and unspoiled -- outside Western civilization (1933), a Depression Era parable of escape and also inspiration.

This idea was later adjusted to concern the rape of the natural environment (for the Energy Crisis, 1976 edition).

"The Eighth Wonder of the World," King Kong has intrigued, terrified, and awed audiences of multiple generations, and is now about to join Godzilla in a shared "monster" universe. Kong has also been a friend to children in his own animated series (1966), and has been imitated often, and poorly (Konga [1961] is a prime example). He has been a plush toy, a model kit, and the subject of TV commercials.

I grew up with King Kong, totally immersed in the character and his story. I was six or seven when the Dino De Laurentiis film came out, and I loved it through and through (still do), despite critical objections. I read books about Kong as a kid, as well as a comic book that I wore out. I built the Aurora kit in regular and glow-in-the-dark editions.

I'm excited to share my love of this character with all of you this week, and also with my ten-year old son, Joel, on Friday. We'll be there opening weekend, to witness King Kong's re-birth.

2 comments:

John, I'm with you. I'm bringing my 12 year old daughter with me this weekend. She went to Godzilla with me a few years back, and while I don't think she is as much of a fan as I am, she seems to be looking forward to Kong quite a bit. Honestly, bringing her along makes the experience 1000 times better.

About John

award-winning author of 27 books including Horror Films FAQ (2013), Horror Films of the 1990s (2011), Horror Films of the 1980s (2007), TV Year (2007), The Rock and Roll Film Encyclopedia (2007), Mercy in Her Eyes: The Films of Mira Nair (2006),, Best in Show: The Films of Christopher Guest and Company (2004), The Unseen Force: The Films of Sam Raimi (2004), An Askew View: The Films of Kevin Smith (2002), The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film & Television (2004), Exploring Space:1999 (1997), An Analytical Guide to TV's Battlestar Galactica (1998), Terror Television (2001), Space:1999 - The Forsaken (2003) and Horror Films of the 1970s (2002).

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"...some of the best writing about the genre has been done by John Kenneth Muir. I am particularly grateful to him for the time and attention he's paid to things others have overlooked, under-appreciated and often written off. His is a fan's perspective first, but with a critic's eye to theme and underscore, to influence and pastiche..." - Chris Carter, creator of The X-Files, in the foreword to Horror Films FAQ (October 2013).

"Hands down, John Kenneth Muir is one of the finest critics and writers working today. His deep analysis of contemporary American culture is always illuminating and insightful. John's film writing and criticism is outstanding and a great place to start for any budding writer, but one should also examine his work on comic books, TV, and music. His weighty catalog of books and essays combined with his significant blog production places him at the top of pop culture writers. Johns work is essential in understanding the centrality of culture in modern society." - Professor Bob Batchelor, cultural historian and Executive Director of the James Pedas Communication Center at Thiel College (2014).

"...an independent film scholar, [Muir] explains film studies concepts in a language that is reader-friendly and engaging..." (The Hindu, 2007)"...Muir's genius lies in his giving context to the films..." (Choice, 2007)